Teenage Dolphins Getting High

Something to ponder as you’re recovering from your New Years binge: humans are not the only creatures who screw with their own brain chemistry with foreign substances. From News.com.au

The brainy mammals have been caught on camera chewing on puffer fish that protect themselves by releasing a nerve toxin which, in low doses, appears to have a narcotic effect on the dolphins, according to the Sunday Times.

The remarkable footage will be shown as part of the BBC series “Dolphins: Spy in the Pod”, which uses remote-controlled underwater cameras to film dolphins up close.

[…]

“This was a case of young dolphins purposefully experimenting with something we know to be intoxicating,” said Rob Pilley, a zoologist who worked as a producer on the series.

There’s a video at the link, but it’s from the BBC and not watchable in the States. And there’s this:

“After chewing the puffer and gently passing it round, they began acting most peculiarly, hanging around with their noses at the surface as if fascinated by their own reflection.”

“Dude, have you ever looked at your snout? I mean, really looked at it?”